The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 160 Unpopular
In the ESPN studio, Michael Breen said, "Tang Bei had a strong offensive desire in this game. He played 41 minutes and scored 44 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 1 turnover, and 3 fouls, with a field goal percentage of 66.7%."

奥尼尔42分钟，砍下25分14篮板2助攻2盖帽4失误2犯规的数据，投篮命中率45.4%。”

汤姆·托尔伯特也拿到了场均数据，念道：“首轮系列赛，唐北场均37分钟，38分15篮板4助攻2抢断4.7盖帽1失误2犯规，投篮命中率68.2%。

而奥尼尔场均37.3分钟，17.3分11.7篮板2助攻0.7抢断2盖帽4失误3.3犯规，投篮命中率44.4%。”

Magic Johnson commented, "The stats were definitely outmatched, the gap was huge, they didn't look like they were in the same league."

Michael Breen said, "At the center position, O'Neal's stats in this series are All-Star caliber, but Tang's stats are Superstar caliber. There's a Superstar caliber in between, two levels apart."

Magic Johnson commented: "Tang's stats are very versatile. He is good on both offense and defense, and he can also play a crucial role in the offense and playmaking. He is a true cornerstone of the team. His importance to the Heat is too great, even greater than that of Shaq to the Magic."

Tom Tolbert asked with interest, "Where would you rank Michael, Irwin, and Tang's stats in last year's Eastern Conference Finals?"

Michael Brin said, "Tang's stats in the Eastern Conference Finals are in a class of their own in history. Even Chamberlain back then couldn't put up those numbers in a series."

Magic Johnson nodded and said, "That Eastern Conference Finals stat, referring only to the center position, is truly in a class of its own in NBA history."

At this point, however, the tone shifted, and he said, "But unfortunately, he still lost the Eastern Conference Finals, so his statistics aren't very meaningful."

Michael Brin then looked at the television and said, "Okay, now let's see our on-the-ground reporter's interview with Don."

At the scene, an ESPN reporter began interviewing Tang Bei, asking, "Tang, you played very aggressively tonight, especially on offense."

You scored the only 40+ point game in the first-round series, and with a sweep of the Magic almost certain, why were you so aggressive on offense in the final moments?

Tang Bei said, "There are two reasons. First, I don't want to slack off on the field and disappoint the fans. Even in away games, I hope to perform well and satisfy the home team's fans."

Upon hearing this, the reporters couldn't help but applaud, and many Magic fans who were leaving the game nearby were also moved by these words.

Of course, some fans were dissatisfied. One big white guy shouted, "Don, next time you come to Orlando, you don't need to work so hard, because we want to win more."

"Ha ha……"

The reporters and some Magic fans at the scene laughed.

Tang Bei waved to the fan and said, "The second reason is that the media always compares me with O'Neal, so I have to keep a distance from him in terms of statistics."

"Why?" the reporter asked, puzzled.

Tang Bei said casually, "Because if we don't create a big enough gap, you'll really think he's a player on the same level as me, and that would make me feel humiliated."

"..."

The reporter and everyone who heard it were stunned. That trash talk was so powerful. What would O'Neal think if he heard it?
"boom!"

"Fuck you."

"boom!"

"Shet."

"boom!"

"Damn Chinese."

"boom!"

"Who the hell is on your level? You're trash."

"boom!"

In the home team's locker room, O'Neal immediately lost control upon hearing Tang Bei's words. He picked up the chair he was sitting on and smashed the television. Then, like a madman, he would curse and smash things repeatedly, quickly turning the entire locker room into chaos.

"Hahaha……"

In the CCTV live broadcast studio, Zhang Heli and his two companions burst into laughter. The director tried to stop them from laughing through their earpieces, but they were too happy to stop.

And across the country, countless fans watching the game felt the same way—they felt really, really good.

"What a show-off!"

Jordan immediately started cursing when he heard this, but he seemed to have forgotten that he had said something similar to Drexler after defeating the Trail Blazers for a back-to-back championship in the Finals two years ago.

Soon, while Tang Bei was still taking a shower, the other three groups of matches that night also came to an end.

The Hawks suffered a road loss and are now down 1-2, raising concerns about the possibility of the Pacers, currently seventh in the Eastern Conference, pulling off an upset.

The Trail Blazers won at home, tying the series 1-2 with the Rockets.

The Suns swept the Warriors, becoming the third team after the Heat to advance by sweeping the series.

The following day, Tang Bei's post-match interview made headlines in many mainstream media outlets, sparking widespread attention and discussion.

Tang Bei has made many enemies in the league, and many people have come out to refute him and support O'Neal.

Barkley and O'Neal were both beaten up by him during last year's All-Star Weekend. Although their relationship wasn't as close as if they had fought side by side or voted together, Barkley was still the first one to jump out.

"Tang, wait until you win the MVP, FMVP and the championship before you say these things. Right now, you are far from qualified to look down on Shaq."

He showed off his championship ring and the two trophies behind him to the TNT television news cameras, looking smug, which made Tang Bei regret his decision.

"What the hell!"

Tang Bei really regretted it. He shouldn't have ruined the Bulls in the last Eastern Conference Finals, letting Barkley, that fat pig, get away with it. Thinking about it, his grudge against Jordan didn't seem that big, did it?
Another mailman, Carl Malone, who had also been beaten up, said coldly in an interview, "Don't ask me this bullshit."

Pippen, who had been beaten up alongside O'Neal, also stood up to express his support for O'Neal, saying in a live television interview with NBC:

"Shaq's talent is unparalleled. He is the Michael Jordan of the center position. I believe he will be the most dominant super center in the future."

"Scottie, you idiot!"

Jordan was a little angry when he saw Pippen's interview. Didn't he know that he really hated Shaq's stupidity?
"Ringling..."

His cell phone rang; it was a reporter he knew. He answered and asked:
"Michael, did you see the interview with Don? Do you think Don and Shaq are in the same league?"

“Hey Rick, don’t try to humiliate me with this question,” he said, somewhat angrily.

"NONONO..."

The reporter named Rick quickly said, "Michael, I didn't mean to humiliate you at all, but I'd like to know why you would think that way?"

Jordan said unhappily, "Tang almost beat the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals with his team. Do you think that fat guy O'Neal is on the same level as Tang? If you think so, then let him make it to the Eastern Conference Finals first." Tang Bei also received a call from a reporter on his way to the airport. The reporter asked, "Tang, have you heard? O'Neal smashed up the entire locker room after yesterday's game."

Tang Bei was taken aback, and said half seriously and half jokingly, "That only means one thing: he hasn't gone all out in the competition."

"Why do you say that?" the reporter asked.

Tang Bei said, "If he had given his all in the game, he definitely wouldn't have had such good stamina to smash up the entire locker room. Anyway, I don't have that kind of stamina after the game."

"Don, how do you respond to Barkley's words?" the reporter asked again.

Tang Bei said, "If he doesn't go to the West and stays in the East, then I congratulate him. It will be very difficult for him to make it to the second round."

"He's slandering me, he's defaming me..."

Shaquille O'Neal angrily said in an interview, "I used every ounce of my energy in the game, and he's slandering me."

"Then why were you able to smash up the entire locker room?" the reporter pressed.

"Can I really overexert myself?" O'Neal said angrily.

"Overdraft?"

The reporter was bewildered: "O'Neal, which bank did you get your fitness credit card from?"

He then asked, "Shaq, why did you smash up the locker room? Was it because Don said you and he weren't on the same level?"

Shaquille O'Neal, feeling stabbed in the back, angrily retorted, "The locker room was too outdated, so I tore it down."

The reporter rolled his eyes and quickly followed up, "So, have you received the stadium's bill?"

O'Neal's face fell. Yes, he received a bill for $23.5. Damn these crooks, are renovations really that expensive now?
"Charles, Don said that if you stay in the East, you won't even have a chance to make it to the second round. How do you plan to respond to him?" the reporter asked.

"Let him win the MVP, FMVP, and championship before he talks to me. Right now, he's not worthy to be my equal."

Barkley knew how to deal with Tang Bei, and those words infuriated Tang Bei. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets. If he had known Barkley was so annoying, he should have let Jordan win three consecutive championships.

Besides these star players, the three super centers were also very unhappy with Tang Bei's words.

Because their regular season stats were similar to O'Neal's, or even worse, than O'Neal's, in Tang Bei's words, they were not on the same level as Tang Bei. How could this not make them angry?

They weren't stupid, and they didn't want to take it personally, so none of them stood up to say anything.

But in their hearts, they all swore that if they had the chance, they would definitely crush Tang Bei's foul mouth to death.

On the fourth night, the Knicks defeated the Cavaliers on the road, advancing to the second round with a 3-1 series victory.

Compared to the Pacers, who could potentially upset the seventh seed, the eighth seed in the West, the Nuggets have a stronger dark horse potential. They defeated the SuperSonics again at home, tying the series 2-2, and the two teams will face off in Game 5.

Meanwhile, the fifth-ranked Jazz in the West won their home games and defeated the fourth-ranked Spurs 3-1 to advance to the second round.

On the evening of the 5th, the Rockets defeated the Trail Blazers on the road, advancing to the second round with a 3-1 series victory.

The Pacers' dark horse potential was on full display as they defeated the Hawks again at home, eliminating the second-place Hawks 3-1 as the seventh seed in the East, completing a "black seven" upset and advancing to the second round.

On the evening of the 6th, the SuperSonics faced the Nuggets in a crucial Game 5 at home.

This game attracted all the attention because no team in NBA history had ever pulled off an upset.

If the Nuggets successfully pull off an upset, they will be the first team in league history to achieve this feat, leaving a significant mark on history.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

In the following game, the sound of shots kept ringing out as Mutombo turned his paint area into a no-fly zone, delivering 8 blocks in a single game.

Ultimately, the Nuggets pulled off the most incredible upset in history, becoming the first team in NBA history to achieve this feat, while the Western Conference-leading SuperSonics were eliminated, also making history.

Mutombo put on an amazing defensive performance, blocking the SuperSonics' offense with 8 blocks, forcing them to stay out of the paint and shoot from the outside.

The SuperSonics were hesitant to penetrate the paint on offense, resulting in only 36 rebounds for the Nuggets, who grabbed 58, a full 22 more.

In offensive rebounds, the Nuggets grabbed 21, while the SuperSonics only managed 10, resulting in a complete defeat in second-chance points.

With this, the first round of the series has come to an end.

In the second round, the Eastern Conference matchups are Bulls vs. Knicks, Heat vs. Pacers, and the Western Conference matchups are Jazz vs. Nuggets and Rockets vs. Suns, with the former having home-court advantage.

The second round is a best-of-seven series, with a home-and-away schedule of 2-2-1-1-1.

The Bulls vs. Knicks and the Rockets vs. Suns games start on the 8th, while the other two games start on the 10th.

In the first round series, the Jazz weren't the real upsets; the real upsets were the Pacers, who came from behind to lose the seventh round, and the Nuggets, who came from behind to lose the eighth round.

After the first round, both teams received a lot of media attention and praise.

NBC commented on the first round: "In just one round of the series, two dark horses emerged, especially the Nuggets' upset of the eighth seed, which was amazing. Mutombo can be called the soul of the Nuggets."

This suggests that this year's playoffs could see some very surprising changes, and we are very much looking forward to seeing more dark horses emerge in the upcoming series.

Pacers' Reggie Miller's performance was actually mediocre, so he didn't receive much attention, and many media outlets criticized him.

The player truly praised by the media was Mutombo of the Nuggets, who averaged 4.6 blocks per game and 8 blocks in Game 5. His performance was the key to the Nuggets' upset victory, making him the center of attention and officially earning him the title of one of the league's top defensive centers in media reviews.

Media outlets believe Mutombo has entered his prime, with some even suggesting that a peak Mutombo would be able to defend Tang Bei one-on-one.

Because of the historic first-ever upset by an eighth seed, Mutombo even stole the spotlight from Tang Bei and Jordan.

On the morning of the 7th, before the start of the second round, the league announced the winner of the regular season MVP.

Tang Bei had no hope of winning the MVP award. His individual stats were the best in the entire league, even better than Jordan's. But the MVP award is more about the team's performance.

The numerous injuries that plagued the team after the All-Star break impacted their record, leaving them with a mere fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and virtually no chance of winning the MVP award.

He believes it should be Jordan, whose Bulls had the second-best record in the league, were one of only two teams with 60 wins, were ranked first in the Eastern Conference, and consistently held a high position in the MVP rankings.

The SuperSonics, with the best record in the entire league, played an underdog style of play, with no player capable of making the top ten MVP candidates, posing absolutely no threat to Jordan winning the MVP award.

As expected, Jordan won his fourth MVP award.

(End of this chapter)